Logan Thompson's first game with the Washington Capitals will be an emotional one for him, as he faces off against his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights, on Tuesday.
Thompson will start against Vegas just a few months after he was traded to the Capitals at the 2024 NHL Draft, the same day he was booked for an autograph signing at the Sphere.
As he prepares to face the Knights for the first time, Thompson said he has "mixed feelings," and that there is a bit of a chip on his shoulder after things between him and Vegas didn't end on the best terms.
“You’re always going to be a little extra motivated to play your former team, but I think I’m just excited to get a first game here in a Caps jersey," Thompson said.
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The 27-year-old netminder wanted more opportunity with the crease becoming crowded with the Golden Knights, and ultimately, he and general manager Kelly McCrimmon couldn't come to terms on a solution that kept him in town.
"I think we were just at two different points, me being so young in my career, I just wanted a different opportunity," Thompson said.
Looking back on the situation though, Thompson said there's no animosity towards the Golden Knights or McCrimmon as he starts fresh in D.C.
"I have a good relationship with Kelly, he's known me since I was 14... Kelly McCrimmon gave me that chance (to move on)," Thompson said. "I'm very, very thankful to (have been) part of the Vegas Golden Knights at the time, and I'm a Stanley Cup champion because of that. But I couldn't be more excited to be here."
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Capitals coach Spencer Carbery is looking forward to seeing Thompson start his first regular season game for the team but also said that he wants him to use that motivation against his former team in the right way.
"I will caution him to channel that because as we know, once the puck drops, you can be as fired up and excited as you want, but if you don’t have a level head and you’re not doing the things necessary that you need to do to go through your progressions — if you want something so bad, sometimes it goes the other way," Carbery said, adding, "He's a fiery guy and he loves to compete, so this will be no different for him."
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As he turns a new page and begins his next chapter, Thompson said there's "all love" when it comes to the Golden Knights, but now, it's time to show his new team what he can do.
"I’m excited. I still think I have a lot more to prove," Thompson said. "This is just game one for me as a Captial, and I’m hoping for many more years to be a Capital."
As for who has the edge — him or his ex-teammates shooting on him — Thompson grinned.
"I guess we'll find out," he said.
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